3/2 Or 5/4?

[pepperbelly]

My LDS carries Scubapro Everflex wetsuits. From doing a lot of reading I have decided to buy one, but I am not sure which thickness.
Most of my diving will be in lakes around North Texas, although I am trying hard to get to Houston and dive a liveaboard on the Mexican Flower Garden. That would obviously be warmer, but I need to buy for what I will do most.
Lakes will get warm during summer, but it takes time and below the thermocline it gets chilly.

Will the 3/2 be warm enough?
If I go with the 5/4 will it be too warm when the lake water temps come up or I dive the reef or rigs off the coast?
One option I am thinking about is using a core warmer when in colder water under the 3/2. That will leave me the 3/2 alone when in warmer water. This should give me the most versality.

Thoughts?

 

[BertStevens]

I faced the same problem when I started diving. I ended up with a thinner suit and opted for a 5 mil hooded vest. Don't forget, 25% of heat loss is from your head.

 

[pepperbelly]

I forgot to add that I am buying a hood when I get the wetsuit.

I started diving around '68 with dad, took a break from diving in the '80s and recently started again. Somehow I never bought a wetsuit. If the water was cold I just didn't dive.
I'm middle aged now and don't like being cold. Somehow at 18 cold just didn't feel as cold as it does now.

 

[Stoo]

I had a 3/2 for Caribbean diving.... as in 80° to 82°. It was ok but I replaced it with a full 3 and like it better. I have no idea what the temps are where you are talking about diving, but I doubt it's that warm.

A lot will depend on your build and tolerance too. Mrs. Stoo is literally 98 pounds. She wears a 5mm with a skin under it, and often a hood... in the Caribbean. She'd be wearing a drysuit I suspect in your lakes.

 

[Tool Belt]

I have been cold diving in my 5/4 a number of times. I was only hot once and flushing some water through the suit took care of that.

 

[pepperbelly]

The warmest water i will probably come across would be around 80*. I could just wear trunks and a shirt if it's that warm. It worked for me in Roatan last January.
How warm is too warm for a 5/4?

 

[Tool Belt]

How warm is always up to you. I am heading to Roatan next week and will be wearing my 5/4 cuz I am a cold water weenie.

 

[DiverDownD3]

It's all going to depend on your comfort. I have a 5mm, but I will use my 3/2 down to low 70s. If you think most of your diving will be above 70, I would go with the 3/2 and get a hooded vest. That's just my opinion

 

[pepperbelly]

I didn't feel cool even at 80' while in a dry shirt and swim trunks. I did only have 2 dives with a surface intrrval. More dives may have made me feel cooler. I think a 5mm would feel too warm there, but I haven't worn one to know.

How much practical difference is there between a 3mm and a 5mm? Is it a big, easily noticeable difference?
How easy is it to get too warm in a 5mm?
I'm leaning toward getting the 5 but I want to be sure before I spend $300.00.

 

[pepperbelly]

Most of my diving will be in local lakes. The surface temp will get over 70* but it does get cooler below the thermocline, sometimes much cooler.
Will a 3/2 with a hooded vest or a hood plus a core warmer give the same protection a 5/4 would?
If so that seems to gove me enough flexsbility to handle a wide range of temps.